The same thing applies to playing the guitar. Playing long, fast, complex runs or passages can be very hard on your tendons and ligaments. The longer and more intense your practice session is the more you need to properly and thoroughly warm up your hands. Practicing these proper warm up exercises before your normal playing session will increase your accuracy, coordination and speed. More flexibility, strength and independence in your fingers are also benefits of these exercises.

I must stress that warm up exercises are very important and are overlooked by many players. All the great players have some type of warm up routine that they follow. This routine is a great contributing factor to their incredible technique and speed.

http://www.wholenote.com/default.asp?src=l&l=614

[Edited by Dr_simon on 01-24-2004 at 12:04 PM]